Czar prince



(No Model.)

G. PRINCE.

GUITAR, 6110. I No. 577,930. Iatented Mar. 2, 1897 WITNESSES: IIVVE/VTOR .Q. m Czar fm'izce A NOR/VHS.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CZAR PRINCE, OF BAINBRIDGE, NEIV YORK, ASSIGXOR OF ONE-HALF TO DON A. GILBERT, OF SAME PLACE.

cults ESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,930, dated March 2, 1897.

Ap li ati fil fl January 27,1896. Serial No. 577,018. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OZAR PRINCE, of Rainbridge, in the county of Ohenango and State of New York, have invented a new and use ful Improvement in Guitars and Like Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement inguitars and like instruments, and particularly in a capo tasto attachment, the purpose of which, like that of the common capo tasto, is to raise the pitch of all the strings, as is well understood by those skilled in playing the guitar.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a guitar provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail side view of a part of the neck. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 represent the improved device in detail; and Figs. 6 and 7 show a somewhat different construction embodying the invention.

The construction shown consists of a support A, which is in the nature of a box having in its upper side a recess within which the tilting bridge-carrier B rocks. The support A is in dovetail form and fits in an undercut recess O in the neck of the guitar or like instrument, so that the bridge-carrier maybe rocked or tilted to set its bridge D above the plane of the frets of the guitarneck, and this bridge is recessed to receive a leather or other suitable strip D to form a bearing for the strings. In connection with the bridge I provide the carrier with a fret E, constituting one of the ordinary frets of the guitar-neck and being combined with the bridge in such manner that such fret and bridge are movable alternately into position for operation, the fret serving its usual purpose in one position of the carrier 13, while in the other position of the carrier the bridge is thrown to the place formerly occupied by the movable fret and operating as a capo taste in raising the pitch of all the strings, as will be readily understood from the drawings. In the closed position of the partsthat is to say, when the bridge is thrown down out of position for use and the fret is in position for use-the bridge rests flat against a shelf a, formed in the support A, and the carrier is braced firmly in such position by the spring F, bearing in a seat g in the carrier 13. In the other position of the carrier the spring F bears in a seat 9, such spring thus serving to hold the carrier firmly in either position, so that there is no vibration or jar thereof as the instrument is played.

\Vhile the carrier may be rocked in various ways, it is preferred to provide it with a handle II, which extends through an opening O in the neck O and projects beyond the rear side of such neck at a point between the side edges thereof, so the handle may be conveniently operated by the hand when desired, but will not interfere with the movement of such hand up and down the guitar-neck in playing the instrument. It is obvious that by this improvement the key of the instrument can be instantly changed, the desirability of which operation will appeal to all players of the guitar and similar instruments.

The strip D is important, as it avoids wearing the strings and also permits the same to be firmly pressed upon without injuring them in any way.

The handle may be attached in various ways. For instance, it may be arranged at the end of the support, as shown in Fig. 6, and so avoid slotting the neck of the guitar from front to rear, as in the construction shown in Fig. 1.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the support A has its upper recess open at its ends and receiving the tilting bridge-carrier B, whose bridge D carries the leather strip D. The fret E in this construction rests upon a shelf a, and the handle H is arranged at the end of the carrier A, as best shown in Fig. 6.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A guitar or like instrument provided with a fret and a capo-iasto bridge movable alternately into position for use substantially as shown and described.

2. A capo tasto composed of a support, a rocking bridge-carrier and a fret carried by ICO an undercut seat, and an opening leading therefrom to the back of the neck the support fitted in said undercut seat the rocking carrier having the bridge and the fret, the ban dlc and the spring substantially as set forth. 6. A capo tasto composed of a support, a rocking bridge-carrier and a spring engaging said bridge-carrier and adapted to hold it in either of its positions substantially as set forth.

CZAR PRINCE. -Witnesses:

Sni'rn LANE, AUsTiN E. WEs'ioo'rT. 

